“Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” – Ecclesiastes 2:2

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 2, 2019): Ecclesiastes 2

In the Elton John biopic “Rocketman,” there is a scene that describes a party that follows Elton’s first experience playing at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. During the scene, Bernie Taupin goes off to dance and experience what the party has to offer, while Elton sits as the observer to everything that was happening. And, at least for me, there was an element of sadness in the moment. The observer gets the idea that somehow, at this moment, Elton doesn’t belong. At the time he was a closeted gay man, and he was out of place at this party. The song that is sung during this moment was Elton’s “Tiny Dancer.” It is a melancholy moment amid the alcohol and drug-induced laughter that filled the party.

As I watched the movie, my immediate response was that I had been there. I have experienced that party. I know what it is like to sit alone amid the crowd. I get the deep sadness of not belonging. I have sat at the party and quietly wished that I was somewhere, anywhere, else. And it was these emotions that crashed down on me as I watched the scene of the movie unfold on the screen in front of me.

We say that laughter is the best medicine. And there is plenty of evidence that that is true. Laughter reduces pain. It lowers blood sugar levels in diabetics and non-diabetics. Laughter improves job performance. It heals relationships and provides a positive emotional climate. There is no doubt that laughter is very good medicine. We need to laugh. No matter what the preacher might say, laughter is not madness; laughter is necessary to healthy life.

But it is not this kind of healthy laughter about which the Teacher is speaking. What the Teacher is speaking of is this party described in the movie “Rocketman.” It is about a superficial happiness, not a deeply felt laughter. The teacher is condemning our chasing after the party experience. Laughter is great medicine, but false laughter and pursuit of the party is often damaging and not healing. It is the root of depression, and creates pain and sickness in our lives. False laughter provided by the party is an attempt to numb the pain, not heal it. And the result of that kind of laughter is meaningless. The Teacher says that that kind of pleasure accomplishes nothing. It just delays our pain until the moment when the crowd goes home, and the alcohol leaves our system.

And the Teacher stresses that that is not worth the effort of chasing. He wants something more.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3